STEM Education Master's Program
Program Overview
Introduction to the STEM Education Master's Program
The Master's degree programs in STEM Education provide a unique experience for students, examining STEM education from a research perspective. Students who choose to complete the master's degree will have the opportunity to engage in research in STEM teacher education and learning. Our faculty are able to provide interesting perspectives on education and are involved in academic research that investigates current issues in STEM education.
Faculty
- Maura Borrego: Professor, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, studies engineering and STEM higher education, including faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates.
- Emma Gargroetzi: Assistant Professor, explores the intersection of the sociopolitical and mathematical lives of children with a focus on identity and learning.
- Carlos Nicolas Gómez Marchant: Associate Professor, investigates intersections of race, language, and mathematics through the experiences of Latinx students learning and doing mathematics.
- María González-Howard: Associate Professor, research explores the intersections of multilingualism, scientific sensemaking, and teacher education, with a specific focus on the ways multilingual students engage in science practices through translanguaging.
- Kemper Lipscomb: Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Communication Studies, Moody College of Communication, focuses on the ways students learn in science courses using computational modeling.
- Tia Madkins: Associate Professor, engages humanizing research approaches to examine equity-focused PK-16 STEM teaching and learning across urban contexts with a focus on Black girls.
- Victor Sampson: Associate Professor, studies the ways culturally and linguistically diverse groups of people use core ideas, frameworks, and practices of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) to explain phenomena or to solve problems that are meaningful and consequential.
- Jennifer C Smith: Professor of Instruction-CURR, teaches preservice K-12 teachers how to teach meaningful STEM content in innovative, student- and community-centered ways.
- Cathery Yeh: Associate Professor, Dr. Yeh's research examines the intersections of race, language, and disability to provide a more nuanced analysis of the constructions of ability in mathematics classrooms and mathematics education systems.
Prerequisites for Admission
- Undergraduate degree in a STEM field—or substantial evidence of prior undergraduate STEM coursework as evidenced on transcript.
- Teaching experience is preferred but not required.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 is a university requirement, although petitions to be admitted with a lower GPA may be submitted by the Graduate Adviser.
Application Guidelines
Future graduate students must first apply to the Graduate School at UT Austin to be considered as an applicant to a College of Education graduate program. Here, you will input your biographical information, resume/CV, statement of purpose, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. We strongly encourage you to start this process well in advance of the deadline to allow us enough time to process your information.
Program Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the U.S.; or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0, particularly during the last two years of college and in any previous graduate study. The department will consider applications with lower GPAs.
Deadlines
- Deadline for the regular Master’s program in STEM Education (either thesis or non/thesis option) is December 31.
- Deadline for the GradUteach program (Master’s program plus preparation for secondary teacher preparation) is June 30.
Application Status
Once all application materials are uploaded and completed, the Graduate School will refer your application to the department. This initial review process by the grad school will take about 1 – 2 weeks, so be sure to have everything turned in well in advance of the deadlines.
After Your Decision
Applicants may be admitted, admitted with conditions, or denied admission.
Master of Arts and Master of Education
M.A. with Thesis
- Intended for students who want to develop their potential as researchers and move into leadership positions in education.
- Requires 9 hours of graduate coursework in a discipline content area, which may be waived for students with a master’s degree in a STEM discipline (e.g., physics or chemistry, not science education).
- Typically take 2 years to complete the degree.
- Not designed for students seeking certification as teachers.
M.A. with No Thesis (Academic Year)
- Intended to be a terminal degree for students who want to develop themselves as teachers or move into leadership positions in teaching or curriculum development.
- Students taking courses during the academic year can complete the master’s degree in two years.
- Not designed for students seeking certification as teachers.
Minimum Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree Plan
- Core courses (15 hours)
- STEM content courses (9 hours)
- Research methodology course (3 hours)
- Supporting courses (3 hours for thesis option or 6 hours for non-thesis option)
- Thesis (6 hours; only for those pursuing thesis option)
- Total of 36 hours for the thesis option; total of 33 hours for the non-thesis option
Core Courses (15 hours)
All master’s students are required to take five core courses. They must take:
- STM 385 Knowing and Learning in STEM Education
- STM 386 Curriculum History in STEM Education
- STM 390-1 Equity in STEM Education
- STM 390-2 Research on Teaching and Teacher Development in STEM Education
- STM 390T Advanced Topics in STEM Education (titles will vary; consult with your advisor)
STEM Content Courses (9 hours)
The minimal course work in a STEM content area (Engineering, Mathematics or Natural Science) is 9 hours of study. These courses must be taken at the upper-division undergraduate or graduate course level.
Research Methodology Course (3 hours)
One course in research design or specific quantitative or qualitative research methods is required. The course must be approved by the Graduate Advisor to meet this requirement.
Supporting Courses (3 hours for thesis option; 6 hours for non-thesis option)
Students are expected to broaden and deepen their program of work by taking a variety of related coursework consonant with their scholarly interests, in consultation with a graduate advisor.
Thesis for M.A. Candidates (6 hours)
All master’s students are required to register for at least two semesters of thesis work.
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
In addition to the requirements for the program for Master of Arts with thesis (see above), students must already be certified to teach at the elementary or secondary level.
M.A. in STEM Education, Teaching Track (GradUTeach)
Developed in partnership with the nationally recognized UTeach program, GradUTeach prepares master’s students with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field for secondary teacher certification while earning a master’s degree.
- Intended for students who are seeking certification to teach math or science in high school as part of their graduate education.
- Designed for students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a STEM (science, engineering, math, etc.) content area
- Applicants must also have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 for their upper division coursework
- Takes two years to complete.
- Requires 18 hours in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education.
- Requires 9-12 hours of coursework in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction focused on teacher education.
- An additional 6 to 9 hours of supporting coursework are taken in the College of Natural Science under advisement by the graduate advisor.
Course Requirements
STEM Core classes: 18 hours
- STM 385 Knowing and Learning
- STM 390 Equity in STEM Education
- STM 390T Research on Teacher/Teacher Ed
- STM 390.4 Equitable and Inclusive Teaching
- STM 695 Class.Interactions/PBI
Courses in the College of Natural Science (6-9 hours)
- Research Methods (Bio 337/382, CHM 368/397C, Phy 341/390)
- Teaching Seminar (UTS 370)
- Additional optional course (with grad advisor approval)
Supporting Courses in the College of Education (9-12 hours)
- EDC 380R: Educational Research and Design
- EDC 651s: Apprentice Teaching
- EDC 398T: Supervised Teaching (optional)
Total: 36 hours
At a Glance
- Program Starts: Fall
- Deadline to Apply: December 31
- GradUTeach Deadline to Apply: June 30
- Credit Hours Required:
- M.A. with thesis: 36 hours
- M.A.: 33 hours
- M.Ed.: 33 hours
- Schedule: Full-time
- Program Location: On Campus
- GRE Required?: No
- Program Area Coordinator, Advisor: Carlos Nicolas Gómez Marchant
- Graduate Admissions Coordinator: Stephen Flynn